Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

142 reviews

takahapa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Medical trauma, Death, War, and Medical content

Moderate: Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Genocide

superstar_y2k's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Child death, Blood, and Death

Moderate: War, Torture, and Sexual assault

Minor: Trafficking and Vomit

arieslofi's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

i really wanted to love this but the writing was juvenile and abrupt, with many short chapters and short sentences that don't allow yourself to be fully immersed in the story; the characters felt one dimensional (notably the side characters, but also salama and kenan); the plot twist fell flat and made me laugh from how just downright dumb it was; khawf made no sense at the end (you have ptsd induced psychosis, your hallucinations don't magically disappear); the romance aspect did absolutely nothing for me and felt extremely rushed (mentioning that they were supposed to get married felt such a cheap trick to excuse this); the studio ghibli references, the repetition of "a might life" as well as green eyes, smelling like lemons, and the pace being horrid proves that the editor failed at their most basic job.
there were parts i enjoyed and overall it is a story that should be told, but it is just not the book for me, ya hater and all.
also, as a the book thief lover, this book is nothing like it in any way, shape or form apart from the fact it takes place in the middle of a genocide. you expect me to believe that this ya written juvenile shit is even comparable to one of the most beautiful pieces of written fiction? fuck off.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, Child death, and War

imperaitrice's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Genocide, Murder, Sexual harassment, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Suicide, Suicide attempt, War, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

haleyisamess's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was on my TBR for a long time and I was so excited to finally get around to it. It was even better than I thought it would be and the book just got better and better.  Katouh did an amazing job educating and engaging her audience. The twist made my jaw drop and I found myself so incredibly attached to the characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Child death, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Medical content, Gun violence, War, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood

Minor: Grief, Miscarriage, Genocide, Torture, Death of parent, Misogyny, Vomit, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Trafficking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts

ryn_richmond's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Death, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Gun violence, War, Sexual assault, Child death, and Violence

stuckinatimeloop's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i loved this book, read it in a day. it's so true that the outside world, including me, is mostly ignorant about horrific civil wars happening in many countries like syria. we know there are refugees but do we really think about them?

the characters were all written well and the writing was so beautiful, especially the descriptions. definitely would read more from this author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, War, Child death, Death of parent, Violence, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Rape

decie's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Medical content, Grief, Gun violence, Sexism, Torture, Death of parent, Genocide, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Blood, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Violence

Moderate: Vomit

Minor: Pedophilia and Rape

emilily's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A gripping story of a young woman navigating trauma and grief in the context of the Syrian war. Overall, I loved this book

but I wish the author hadn't bothered with the epilogue; end on a cliffhanger in the sea was a huge missed opportunity to leave the ending up to interpretation

. 

I'd definitely recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, War, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Gun violence

Moderate: Blood, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Child death, and Death of parent

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Genocide, Death, Police brutality, Mental illness, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and War

Moderate: Torture and Xenophobia

Minor: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy